Golden Apple: North Boone's Michael Winebrenner creates his own golden history

Posted:
Friday, April 5, 2013 1:01 PM EDT

POPLAR GROVE (WREX) -

There's a saying that goes, "You can't know where you're going until you know where you've been." North Boone Middle School history teacher Michael Winebrenner would agree.

He teaches his students to look into the past to learn about today. Now, with a Golden Apple Award, it will serve as a piece of his own history. After realizing as a student that his future would be full of history, Winebrenner found his calling.

"There's two things I love," Winebrenner says. "I love history, and I love telling stories, and history is all about telling stories. So when I was in college, I was kind of spurred on by professors to teach. They thought they knew I liked telling stories, and I love kids, and it seemed like a natural fit."

And he was right. Now, as a 2013 Golden Apple recipient, he's humbled by the award and says the process of earning it was equally as rewarding.

"I wanted people to see that I love teaching," Winebrenner says. "I love my students, and that's why I do it."

To keep history from getting stale, he gets the kids involved, allowing them to make decisions on lessons.

"It's just facts and numbers and dates to them, until you can relate it to them and relate it to their lives, so that's what I try to do everyday."

Something he hopes to continue for many years to come.

"I'm truly honored," Winebrenner says. "I do want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is my motivation, and he's given me the gifts and talents to do it."